Device for charging lubricants



1956 T. H. NAKKEN 2,769521 DEVICE FOR CHARGING LUBRICANTS Original Filed Oct. 30, 1951 JNVEN TOR. Flzaaaes H IVfl/(KEW ATTORNEY United States Patent DEVICE FOR: CHARGING. LUBRICANTS Theodore H; Nakken, NeWYork, N. Y.

origil alapplicafion ()ctober 30, 1951, Serial No; 253,915. DQividedaml this-application June 17, Y 1952, Serial N0. 2 3,891

This invention relates to. improvements in apparatus for. charging fluid. lubricants and this application is a division ofvapplication Serial Number: 253,915, filed October. 30,195 1.

The: main object of-the 'invention-isthe provision of apparatus.- for initially charging lubricatingoils-by; impartingnto thei rnolecules vof'the oil, charges of the same polarity so-that they tendvto repel-each other an'dproduce'a'lubricating-.eifect similar to-the lubricating etfect of uncharged oil, however the friction-in: bearings and between. moving parts is substantially lesswith the charged oil.

Anotheri objectotthe invention is the provision of appfiratusthroughwhich oil is passed: to charge it initially, said device employin'gf'homogenization and-a high electrical potential.

Yetanother object of: the invention is' theprovision oftapparatus through -which charged oii in-use is passed repetitively for the purpose of main-tainin'g orincreasing the charge. For example, by the-use of this apparat-us installed on an'internal combustion'engine and connected-to asource of high potentialelectricity; and intercon-nected with the crank case of the engine, the oil in the crank case would ee-continuously andrepeti tivelycirculated-through the 'device" with the resultthat the oil would become charged and wouid conti'nue toremain charged.

Referring-to the drawings which are" given by way of example to illustrate" apparatus for treating oils:

Figure 1 is across-sectional elevation of one form' of apparatus forelectrically charging lubricatingoils;

Figure 2. is-a view taken along the line 2"2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation, in section; of anoil charger which employs homogenization in addition-to a high electrical potential;

Figure 4 is a: view taken along the line 44 ure 3; and- Figure'S isfa fragmenta-ry view showing details of the minute passages through which the oil T is forced.

In internal combustion engines the great frictional load appears to be= constrained in' the iubricatingoil'and should not-occuranywhere' else; If there Were'metalito metalcontact scoring would be experienced and the engine would be damaged ina short periodoftime. This being the"case'th'e'friction in the oiliis caused by the work involved in separatingoillayers on the cylinder wall from those on the piston. Hence thework involved is shear Work within the oil.

As theoil-serves the purpose'of covering the metal parts for rubbingagainst'one-another it must have the characteristic of forming apracticallyunbreakable layer overfthe-metaL- This layer should not break down under any of the-pressures and frictional stresses involved making it necessary to use an oil of a given minimumivis cosity; Theoilshoul'd alsoh'ave the property of then oughly wetti-ng the metah so that an unbroken even layer of oil ispresent overthe entire metallic surface.

of Fig- 2,769,621 Patented N 0v. 6,- 1956 It is quite evident that-thehigher the viscosity of the oil the greater will be the internal friction.

The requirements for asubstantially frictionless engine would boil'doWnto-the specifications for'an ideal lubrieating oil, for which a set of requirements would be set up; First of all there isth'e demand that the oil should form an unbreakable film over all metal parts which may conversibly give rise to friction. Secondly, the oil should have the lowest possible internal friction; These two demandsare in apparentcontradiction because'with the usual oils, covering power is a-function of viscosity. The higher the viscosity the tougher the film ofoil coating the metal parts, but also the higher the internalfriction. Attemptshaveheretofore been made to impart to oilsthe characteristic of closelyclinging to-the-metal surfaces with'little success and, as far as applicantis aware', no attempth'as heretofore been made tocreate alubricatingoil which has been given the desired-characteris'tics electrically. ltappears to applicant that here isthe'one and only logical wayof producing a frictionless lubricant.

Since oil is an. insulator it will retain an electrical charge almosfin'definitely. In that respecta body of oil-so charged wouldf behave as-if it were-a sort of 'electrophor as used in the old-static experimentsof theph-ysics classroom where an" electrophor is rubbed with acat skin. Theoil-in" constant motion orflow maybe charged electrically,- for example if I flow'oil through a metallic sponge, such'for example asformed by powder'metallur'gical processes, said" metallic sponge beinginstalled in an insuiating'ring'and held at high potential by means of a source of high tension D. C. e ectr'icity, the oil molecules touching the metal would acquirea'ch-argeaccord ing' tothe polarity impressed upon-th'e sponge As soon as such a chargehas been acquired, theoilmolecule will be violently repelled by the imposed equal charge to be replaced by new neutralmolecule's WhlChlntHIII-WOUIGI be socharged; As'th'e oil'is practically a. perfect insulator the'entire body ofoil-aftera given number of recirculations =would=be"completely ionized since all iofthe molecules will have acquired an electrical charge.

Where'such a body of:ch'arged:oi-l is'usedas a lubricant the ionizedoilparticles having a definite electrical charge would'cling to any metallic surface withthe-greatestof tenacity 'especiallyif the metallic surface were capable-of loosing any-inducedcharges andhence were self-neutralizing. Under these circumstances it would be practically impossible to. free the metal of an atomic or molecular layer. of oil since no amount of'rubbing, pressure could displace the oil layer clingingv to it. Hence we have acquired an oil which satisfies the first demand stipulated above for the ideal frictionless lubricant.

Furthermore, such an oil'has negligible internal'fric tion'due to the fact that the electrical" charges on the oil molecules being all of the same-polarityhad the tendeasier or ne'gligibleb'y the mutual repulsion of the charged particles of oil;

Such an oilin an engine would then-be almost ideal because the metalparts are protected against friction'al contact and the oil surfaces separating themetal-parts are mutually repulsive and consequently-offer negligible shear resistance Such oil theninstalled'in an internal combustion engine would result in a Well nigh friction-less engine.

This would be true because the oil Would minimize any friction between pistons and cylinder wallsand also in 'the various bearings. which. would all be electro-oil plated. Hence such'an engine would very closely' aptproach the-long sought'ideall Such anengin'ein operation-wouldnot have-to -generate the23'H. Pf-h'our per hour required for overcoming the engine friction losses.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a casing has a boss 11 on its upper end with a passage 12 therethrough into which is pressed an insulating bushing 13 having a flange 14 formed integral therewith. 'This bushing has an interior bore 15 into which a hollow shaft 16 is journalled. The shaft 16 has an interior passage 17 via which oil flows downwardly. Preferably formed integral with the shaft 16 is a flange 18.

The casing 10 also has a boss 19 which is preferably in alignment with the boss 11. This boss has a passage 20 therethrough. A disc 21 is supported by webs 22 in spaced relation to the face 18a of the flange 18 and the upper surface of the disc 21 carries a disc of insulation 23. The shaft 16 may carry a grooved pulley 24, which may be belted to a suitable prime mover, whenever it is desired to rotate the shaft 16 and the flange 18, however the device will operate either with the shaft 16 stationary or rotating. The thickness of the insulating layer 23 should be approximately one-half of the distance between the flange 18 and the disc 21 and the insulating layer functions to spread the layer of oil out thinly, so that an area of thin oil approximately equal to the area of the disc 18 is subjected to the charge on the disc 18 before it flows over the edges of the insulating disc 23 and falls into the bottom of the chamber and passes out through the passage 20. It will be understood that this action is repetitive. In addition to this, the rotation of the disk 18 tends to pull the oil comprised in the thin layer on the surface of 23 rotatorially and at the same time, the rotation of 18 causes some of the oil to fly off due to centrifugal force and this oil is replaced by additional oil by the passage 17 so this action is also repetitive. The shaft 16 is connected to a source of D. C. potential of the order of 50,000 volts, one polarity being impressed on the shaft 16 via a brush 25 and the other being impressed on the body 10 by a connection to the lug 26.

As pointed out above, this device may be connected in series with the oil line, preferably after the Oil has passed through the filter and if the engine is supplied wlth charged oil, this device will maintain it 1n a charged condition due to the repetitive circulation of the oil through it. If the engine is supplied withnon-charged oil, this device will gradually charge the 011 and thereafter maintain it charged.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, I show a device which employs both a high potential and homogenization. A casing has a flange 29 on one end thereof and is provided with a stepped boss 27, 28 on the other end thereof. The boss 27 has an interior bore 31 through which the charged oil discharges. The boss portion 23 has a counterbore 32 therein to accommodate a sp1der 33 which is engaged by the lower end of a ceramic spring which will presently be described. Supported by the curved interior wall 35 of the body 30 is an annulus 34 formed of insulation. Supported on the annulus 34 is an outer ring 37 of my new and improved homogenizer 36. Nested in the ring 37 are several other rings 39, 41, 42, 43 and 44 and the central plug 45. The ring 39 has a plurality of minute grooves formed on the outer surface thereof and these grooves form with the surface 38, isolated passages through the homogenizer 36. The rings .41, 42, 43 and 44 as well as the plug member 45 also have minute grooves like the grooves formed on the outer surfaces thereof which also form minute isolated passages through the homogenizer 36. The plug member is in effect a keystone and it is pressed upwardly by a ceramic spring 46 which is strong enough I to hold the plug member on a level with the other ring members against the pressure of the oil as will presently be described. The inner wall of the body 30 in the vicinity of the flange 29 has internal threads formed therein and these threads are engaged by a threaded ring 47, which is formed of insulation and the upper end of 4 this ring is shown as flush with the upper surface of the flange 29.

A cover member 48 has a flange 49 which matches the flange 29. The cover member also has a boss 50 with a threaded interior bore 51 therein through which oil under pressure is delivered to the interior 52 thereof. The cover member also has a terminal 53 thereon which is comprised of a bushing 54 having a shank extending through a hole 55 and into a counterbore insulating washer 56 on the exterior thereof. A boss 57 has a threaded shank 58 which is engaged by a nut 59 to secure it in the bushings 54 and 56, and a nut 60 is provided for securing a conductor thereto. The head 57 is tapped to accommodate a screw 61 which secures a contact spring 62 thereto. The contact spring bears on the conical member 45 to supply the homogenizer with potential. The cover member has a plurality of aligned holes therein which are clearance holes for screws 63 which engage corresponding threaded holes in the flange 29. A suitable gasket 64 is provided between the flanges to render the device fluid tight. Oil under a pressure suflicient to force it through the minute passages 40 between the tapered rings is supplied via the passage 51, and with one terminal from a source of high potential D. C. is supplied to the terminal 58. The body 30 is connected to the other terminal of the source so that as the oil passes through the device and out via the passage 30, it becomes molecularly charged.

The homogenizer 36 is in a sense a metallic sponge, because it is formed of metal and has many minute passages 40 therethrough through which the oil is forced while the homogenizer 36 is charged to a potential of between 50,000 and 125,000 volts. The several rings forming the homogenizer may be formed by powder metallurgy, or they may be formed as a single mass in such a manner that a myriad of minute passages for the oil extend therethrough.

I propose to process the oil initially by means of the device shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 and supply a smaller similar device or a device on the order of that shown in Figures 1 and 2 to be placed on the vehicle preferably in the oil line returning from the filter.

Although I have herein disclosed a method of reducing the friction between wearing surfaces in mechanisms by means of charged oil, the charging reducing the friction between the different strata of oil between said wearing surfaces, and have shown apparatus by means of which the oil may be initially charged and maintained in a charged condition, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details shown, as many changes may be made in the method and the apparatus Within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for charging the molecules of a lubricant, a casing, a hollow shaft rotatably carried in said casing and insulated therefrom, said shaft having a flange on the lower end thereof, a disc within said casing fixed in a predetermined spaced relation with respect to said flange, an insulating disc positioned on said first-mentioned disc, means to impress a high direct current potential across said shaft and said casing, and means to pass said lubricant through said hollow shaft, between said flange and said insulating disc and then out from said casing.

2. In a device for molecularly charging lubricating oil, a vessel, a stationary metallic plate within said vessel, an insulating coating on said plate, a second metallic plate rotatably carried in said vessel, means to impress a high direct current potential across said metallic plates, and means to move lubricating oil in a layer between said insulation and said second plate.

3. In a device for molecularly charging lubricating oil, a vessel, a stationary metallic plate Within said vessel, an insulating coating on said plate, a second metallic plate rotatably carried within said vessel, means to impress a high direct current potential across said metallic plates, means extending from said vessel to be connected to a prime mover for rotating said second plate, and means to pass a layer of oil between said rotating plate and said insulation whereby the rotary motion of said last plate rolls the molecular structure of the oil under the influence of said potential.

4. In a device for electrically charging the molecules of a lubricating oil, a casing, a nonqnetallic bushing supported in said casing, a hollow shaft journaled in said bushing and carrying a flange on the lower end thereof, a metallic disc supported within the casing in spaced relation to said flange, an insulating disc on said plate, means to impress a high direct current potential across said shaft and said casing, and means to pass said lubricating oil through said hollow shaft and between the then charged flange and said insulating disc and thence out from said casing.

5. In a device for electrically charging the molecules of a lubricating oil, a casing having a vertical hole formed therein, a non-metallic bushing supported in said hole, a hollow shaft journaled in said bushing and carrying a flange on the lower end thereof, a metallic disc within said casing and coextensive with said flange, said disc and said flange being spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance, a dielectric disc supported on said first disc and of such thickness as to provide between it and said flange suificient space to accommodate a stream of lubricating oil delivered into the casing via said hollow shaft, and means to subject said oil to a high direct current potential, said means including connections between a source of high potential direct current, said shaft, and said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,360,654 Littlefield Nov. 30, 1920 2,049,940 Barthel Aug. 4, 1936 2,132,854 Knott Oct. 11, 1933 2,203,673 Cornell June 11, 1940 2,577,247 Irwin Dec. 4, 1951 2,595,227 Cotton May 6, 1952 2,620,172 Jenett et al. Dec. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 306,673 Italy Mar. 29, 1933 

